Magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI), or magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to investigate the anatomy and function of the body in both health and disease. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields and radiowaves to form images of the body. The technique is widely used in hospitals for medical diagnosis, staging of disease and for follow-up without exposure to ionizing radiation. Introduction[edit] Neuroimaging[edit] MRI image of white matter tracts. MRI is the investigative tool of choice for neurological cancers as it is more sensitive than CT for small tumors and offers better visualization of the posterior fossa. Cardiovascular[edit] MR angiogram in congenital heart disease Cardiac MRI is complementary to other imaging techniques, such as echocardiography, cardiac CT and nuclear medicine. Musculoskeletal[edit] Liver and gastrointestinal MRI[edit] Functional MRI[edit] Oncology[edit] How MRI works[edit]

Seeing the light: Ed Boyden's tools for brain hackersThis article was taken from the November 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online. Ed Boyden, an engineer turned neuroscientist, makes tools for brain hackers.

Functional magnetic resonance imagingResearcher checking fMRI images Functional magnetic resonance imaging or functional MRI (fMRI) is a functional neuroimaging procedure using MRI technology that measures brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow.[1] This technique relies on the fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are coupled. When an area of the brain is in use, blood flow to that region also increases. The primary form of fMRI uses the Blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) contrast,[2] discovered by Seiji Ogawa.

Proton therapyProton therapy is a type of particle therapy which uses a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue, most often in the treatment of cancer. The chief advantage of proton therapy is the ability to more precisely localize the radiation dosage when compared with other types of external beam radiotherapy, though it is controversial whether this provides an overall advantage compared to other, less expensive treatments. Description[edit] In a typical treatment plan for proton therapy, the Spread Out Bragg Peak (SOBP, dashed blue line), is the therapeutic radiation distribution. The SOBP is the sum of several individual Bragg peaks (thin blue lines) at staggered depths. The depth-dose plot of an x-ray beam (red line) is provided for comparison.

New Method for Intracellular Temperature MappingA team of scientists from Japan has found a way to take a close look at the temperature distribution inside living cells. In a previous study, Dr Okabe’s team used a fluorescent polymeric thermometer and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy for intracellular temperature mapping. These images show temperature distribution in living COS7 cells. Scale bar – 10 μm (Kohki Okabe et al, 2012)Diffusion MRIDiffusion MRI (or dMRI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method which came into existence in the mid-1980s.[1][2][3] It allows the mapping of the diffusion process of molecules, mainly water, in biological tissues, in vivo and non-invasively. Molecular diffusion in tissues is not free, but reflects interactions with many obstacles, such as macromolecules, fibers, membranes, etc. Water molecule diffusion patterns can therefore reveal microscopic details about tissue architecture, either normal or in a diseased state. The first diffusion MRI images of the normal and diseased brain were made public in 1985.[4][5] Since then, diffusion MRI, also referred to as diffusion tensor imaging or DTI (see section below) has been extraordinarily successful. Its main clinical application has been in the study and treatment of neurological disorders, especially for the management of patients with acute stroke. Diffusion[edit]

North Metropolitan Health Service, Mental HealthRole and Function North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) Mental Health aims to provide best practice, specialised mental health services supported by strategic planning in partnerships with service providers to the people of Western Australia. NMHS Mental Health is part of North Metropolitan Health Service which includes the Graylands, Sir Charles Gairdner, Osborne Park, Swan District and Kalamunda Hospitals and associated health services, Joondalup Health Campus and NMHS Population and Ambulatory Care Division. NMHS Mental Health is committed to the ongoing development and improvement of mental health services in Western Australia inline with relevant National and State policies, plans and frameworks. Services are delivered through inpatient units, community mental health centres, and day therapy and outreach programs to a catchment area of more than 800,000 people. NMHS Mental Health services are accessed by referral from a range of health care providers.

Diamond defects shrink MRI to the nanoscaleIBM Research A diamond surface containing nitrogen–vacancy defects (dark spots) can detect molecules on the nanoscale. Diamond-based quantum devices can now make nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on the molecular scale.How to Prevent an Acidic Stomach from Drinking CoffeeDo you get an acidic stomach when you drink a cup of coffee? Many coffee-lovers do, and some won't give up their daily cup of Joe despite their burning stomach. Fortunately, there may be some relief in sight for people who get stomach irritation from drinking coffee. A research team from Austria and Germany recently discovered that dark-roasted coffee is more stomach-friendly - and they think they know why. Coffee Acidity and Dark-Roasted Coffee Coffee contains a hodge-podge of stomach irritants including caffeine and chemicals called catechols that tell the acid-producing cells of the stomach to work overtime.To counteract this, they found another chemical called N-methylpyridium, or NMP, that's in highest quantity in dark-roasted coffee such as espresso, Viennese, Italian, Continental and French roast blends.

Services provided across South Metropolitan Health ServiceOur focus at SMHS is improving patient care and population health outcomes for our patients and the community. To this end, hospitals in the area are undergoing major changes to achieve an integrated approach across professions, sites and services, sharing knowledge and expertise, recognising and building on strengths. Our hospitals will be developing collaborative networks and partnerships, aligning resources, systems and processes across the health service to achieve our goals. Part of the reconfiguration includes changes to how our hospitals deliver their services: